Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. He is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. Poe is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States and of American literature as a whole.

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe

    This collection brings together all of the author's most famous works, including poems, short stories, and novellas. Known for his macabre and gothic storytelling, the author's works are filled with themes of death, love lost, and human frailty. Notable inclusions are the haunting poem "The Raven," the chilling stories "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Fall of the House of Usher," and his only complete novel, "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym."

    The 98th Greatest Book of All Time
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  2. 2. The Fall of the House of Usher

    "The Fall of the House of Usher" is a chilling tale of a visit to a friend's decaying mansion, where the visitor witnesses strange events and learns about the Usher family's curse. The story is filled with eerie incidents, including the illness of the lady of the house, her subsequent death and entombment in the family vault, and her terrifying reappearance. The story culminates in the literal and metaphorical crumbling of the Usher house, symbolising the end of the cursed Usher lineage.

    The 671st Greatest Book of All Time
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  3. 3. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym

    of Nantucket

    This novel follows the adventures and misadventures of Arthur Gordon Pym, who stows away on a whaling ship called the Grampus. After a mutiny on board, Pym and a few others survive and they journey further south, encountering bizarre creatures and civilizations, including a tribe of black-skinned natives on an island near the South Pole. The book ends abruptly, leaving Pym's fate unknown. The narrative is a mix of adventure, horror, and exploration, with elements of symbolism and metaphysics.

    The 773rd Greatest Book of All Time
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  4. 4. The Murders in the Rue Morgue

    "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is a mystery novel that follows an amateur detective who uses his extraordinary analytical skills to solve a series of brutal murders that have baffled the police. The victims, two women, were killed in their locked Paris apartment under mysterious circumstances. The detective, with his unique method of deductive reasoning, uncovers the shocking truth behind the murders, revealing an unexpected perpetrator.

    The 1785th Greatest Book of All Time
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  5. 5. The Pit and the Pendulum

    In this classic tale of suspense and horror, a man is sentenced to death by the Spanish Inquisition and trapped in a dark, seemingly inescapable chamber. He faces various tortures, including the threat of a slowly descending pendulum blade and the terror of a pit in the center of his cell. As he uses his wits to survive, he experiences the psychological torment of impending doom and the physical pain of his dire situation.

    The 2545th Greatest Book of All Time
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  6. 6. Tales Of Mystery And Imagination

    This collection of stories delves into the macabre and the mysterious, exploring themes of madness, death, and the supernatural. Through a series of gripping narratives, the tales evoke a sense of suspense and horror, often featuring protagonists who grapple with their own psychological demons. The stories are rich in gothic atmosphere, characterized by dark, foreboding settings and intricate plots that lead to unexpected and often chilling conclusions. The author's masterful use of language and vivid imagery immerses readers in a world where the line between reality and imagination is blurred, leaving a lasting impression of eerie fascination.

    The 3267th Greatest Book of All Time
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  7. 7. The Raven

    The narrative poem tells the story of a grieving man who is visited by a mysterious raven one bleak December night. As the man mourns the loss of his beloved Lenore, the raven perches upon a bust of Pallas and repeatedly utters the word "Nevermore." This refrain drives the man into a deeper state of despair and madness as he interprets the raven's presence and words as a symbol of eternal sorrow and the impossibility of reuniting with Lenore. The poem explores themes of loss, longing, and the haunting nature of memory.

    The 3463rd Greatest Book of All Time
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  8. 8. A Predicament

    The Scythe of Time

    In this darkly humorous tale, the protagonist, Signora Psyche Zenobia, embarks on a peculiar adventure with her poodle and servant in tow. As she climbs a church steeple to gain a better view for her writing, she finds herself in a bizarre predicament when her head becomes trapped in the clock's minute hand. The story unfolds with a blend of absurdity and horror as Zenobia reflects on her situation, ultimately leading to a macabre yet comical conclusion.

    The 5044th Greatest Book of All Time
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  9. 9. The Tell Tale Heart And Other Writings

    This collection of writings by a master of macabre literature delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche, exploring themes of guilt, madness, and the supernatural. It features a chilling tale of a murderer haunted by the incessant beating of his victim's heart, as well as a selection of poems and short stories that showcase the author's penchant for mystery and the gothic. The narratives are woven with a rich, poetic language that enhances their eerie atmosphere, making this compilation a quintessential representation of the author's haunting literary style and his influence on the horror genre.

    The 6933rd Greatest Book of All Time
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  10. 10. Essays And Reviews

    "Essays and Reviews" is a collection of literary criticism and observations by a prominent 19th-century American writer, known for his sharp analytical skills and poetic brilliance. The book compiles a series of texts that delve into the author's views on poetry, fiction, and the art of writing, as well as his critiques of contemporary works and authors. His incisive commentary and often controversial opinions provide a window into the literary scene of his time, showcasing his influence on both the theory and practice of literary art. The collection is notable for its eloquent prose, keen insight, and the author's characteristic blend of wit and erudition.

    The 7216th Greatest Book of All Time
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  11. 11. Eureka

    A Prose Poem

    "Eureka" is a lengthy non-fiction work by an American writer, which presents a cosmological theory that predates the Big Bang theory by nearly 80 years. The essay delves into the author's intuitive conception of the nature of the universe, exploring the relationship between matter, energy, and the divine. It is a blend of poetry, science, and philosophy, where the author theorizes about the origins of the universe, its eventual collapse, and its subsequent re-creation in an eternal cycle. The work is highly speculative and metaphysical, reflecting the author's personal musings on the interconnectedness of all things and the ultimate understanding of God's design.

    The 7216th Greatest Book of All Time
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  12. 12. Tales Of The Grotesque And Arabesque

    This collection of short stories delves into the macabre and mysterious, exploring the depths of human fear, madness, and the supernatural. Each tale is crafted with a masterful blend of gothic elements and psychological intrigue, drawing readers into a world where the line between reality and the bizarre is blurred. Themes of obsession, death, and the unknown permeate the narratives, creating an atmosphere of suspense and unease. The stories challenge perceptions and invite readers to confront the darker aspects of the human psyche, leaving a lingering sense of wonder and dread.

    The 14885th Greatest Book of All Time
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  13. 13. The Complete Stories

    A landmark collection of gothic tales that blend psychological horror, mystery, and early detective fiction, charting obsessions, guilt, and the decay of mind and place. Across stories of vengeance, confinement, and uncanny revelation, unreliable narrators and meticulous atmospheres build dread while probing mortality, madness, and the limits of reason. Together, these pieces showcase a mastery of mood and form that shaped modern suspense and speculative literature.

    The 15905th Greatest Book of All Time
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  14. 14. The Tell-Tale Heart

    An unreliable narrator fixates on an old man’s unsettling eye, meticulously plotting and executing his murder before hiding the dismembered body beneath the floorboards. When the police arrive to investigate, the narrator is tormented by the sound of a beating heart that grows unbearably loud, and his mounting guilt and paranoia drive him to confess.

    The 16616th Greatest Book of All Time
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  15. 15. The Collected Tales Of Edgar Allan Poe

    This collection brings together a series of haunting and macabre tales that delve into the darkest corners of the human psyche. With a masterful blend of suspense, horror, and the supernatural, the stories explore themes of madness, guilt, and the supernatural, often featuring protagonists who grapple with their own inner demons. The narratives are rich with atmospheric detail and psychological depth, drawing readers into a world where the line between reality and imagination blurs, leaving them to ponder the mysteries of the human mind and the nature of fear.

    The 16764th Greatest Book of All Time
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  16. 16. Relatos

    This collection of tales delves into the macabre and mysterious, weaving narratives that explore the darkest corners of the human psyche. Each story is a masterful blend of suspense, horror, and psychological intrigue, often featuring protagonists who grapple with their own fears and obsessions. The tales are rich with gothic elements, vivid imagery, and unexpected twists, drawing readers into a world where the line between reality and the supernatural is blurred. These stories captivate with their haunting atmosphere and profound insights into the complexities of the human condition.

    The 17151st Greatest Book of All Time
  17. 17. The Masque Of The Red Death

    In a tale of gothic horror, a wealthy prince secludes himself and his courtiers in a luxurious abbey to escape a devastating plague ravaging the land. As the disease, known for its gruesome symptoms, decimates the population outside, the prince hosts a lavish masquerade ball within the abbey's opulent walls. However, the revelry is interrupted by the arrival of a mysterious, ominous figure dressed as a victim of the plague. This spectral presence serves as a chilling reminder that no barrier can shield one from the inevitability of death, culminating in a haunting and inevitable conclusion.

    The 16975th Greatest Book of All Time
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  18. 18. The Penguin Complete Tales And Poems Of Edgar Allan Poe

    This comprehensive collection brings together the haunting tales and evocative poems that have cemented their place in the annals of gothic literature. Delving into themes of madness, death, and the supernatural, the stories and verses explore the darkest corners of the human psyche with a masterful blend of suspense and lyrical beauty. From the chilling "The Tell-Tale Heart" to the melancholic "The Raven," each piece showcases the author's unparalleled ability to weave intricate narratives that captivate and unsettle, leaving readers with a lingering sense of unease and wonder.

    The 17151st Greatest Book of All Time
  19. 19. The Complete Works Of Edgar Allan Poe

    This comprehensive collection brings together the hauntingly beautiful tales and poems of a master storyteller, weaving a tapestry of mystery, horror, and the macabre. Through vivid imagery and intricate plots, readers are drawn into a world where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs. From the chilling "The Tell-Tale Heart" to the melancholic "The Raven," each piece explores themes of madness, love, and mortality, showcasing the author's unparalleled ability to delve into the darkest corners of the human psyche. This anthology is a testament to the enduring power of gothic literature and its ability to captivate and unsettle audiences.

    The 16786th Greatest Book of All Time
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  20. 20. El Gato Negro

    A man recounts his descent into alcoholism and violent cruelty, first toward animals and then toward his loved ones: after torturing and mutilating a cherished black cat and hanging it, he is haunted by guilt and by the appearance of a second similar cat. Consumed by rage and paranoia, he kills his wife when she tries to stop him and conceals her body within a wall, only to be undone when the hidden cat's cries reveal the crime to the authorities, forcing him to confess.

    The 17093rd Greatest Book of All Time
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